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Passover |
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Passover is celebrated on the 14th day of Nissan, which in 2008 coincides with the Gregorian date of April 19th at nightfall.
Passover, or Pesach, commemorates God’s liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery.
In Israel, Passover is a seven day holiday. The first and last days are full festivals. The intermediate days are called “Chol HaMoed” In the Jewish diaspora, Passover is celebrated for 8 days.
Jews observe the positive Torah commandment prohibiting owning or eating chametz (leavened products) in memory of the unleavened bread that the Jews ate when leaving Egypt. Since they were commanded to leave hastily, they did not have time to let the dough rise properly, resulting in flat or unleavened bread.
Since the prohibition on Passover is against eating or owning leavened food products the weeks before the holiday are spent in concentrated and intense housecleaning. Each room in the house is thoroughly cleaned and rid of cookies, crackers, and all other leavened products. The kitchen receives special treatment since during Passover, completely separate dishes and glassware which are reserved for only for Passover use are utilized.
The Passover Seder:
On the first night of Passover, or “Seder night” (first two nights outside Israel) the Passover Seder is held. The positive commandment is to recount story of the Exodus from Egypt, throughout the centuries, from the actual liberation from Egypt until this day, each generation transmitting witness of these events to their children, creating an unbroken chain of tradition of recognizing God’s greatness and the miracles which he performed for the Jews.
The Seder Table is set festively, and traditionally, families celebrate together. It is also customary to invite guests, including the needy. The Seder is a central point of the Passover Holiday and to Jewish faith and identity. The Haggadah, or story of the liberation of the Jewish people from Egypt, is read and explained, often until late at night.
Each participant receives a Haggadah, a plate and a wineglass at the beginning of the Seder.
A central focus of the Seder is on the symbolic foods placed upon the Passover Seder Plate, and explaining the reason for them. There is also a Matzah Plate for three matzot.
During the Seder, four cups of wine are drunk, representing the four expressions of deliverance in Exodus: “I will bring out,” “I will deliver”, “I will redeem”, “I will take”.
This Rabbinic obligation applies to both men and women. After the third cup of wine is drunk, the Cup of Eliyahu (Elijah) is filled and the front door of the house is opened, to welcome Eliyahu the Prophet, who traditionally visits each home on the Seder night.
Each household head has pillows placed on his chair to symbolize sitting as royalty, in freedom, in total contrast to the bitter slavery in Egypt.
At the beginning of the Haggadah recital, the youngest child asks the “Ma Nishtana”, or question. “Why is this night different from all other nights?” The head of household answers by starting to recite the Haggadah .
During the recital, while eating the matzah, an olive sized portion of matzah called afikoman is put aside, and hidden by one of the children in order to arouse their interest and curiosity in the Seder. After the festive meal, the child who reveals the afikoman’s hiding place is rewarded with a prize.
At the conclusion of the Seder, the a prayer is recited that the night’s service be accepted and expresses a wish for the Messiah: “Next year in Jerusalem”
More information
http://www.zionism-israel.com/holidays/passover.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover
Passover collection
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